Abstract
Cone snails, also known as marine gastropods, from Conus genus produce in their venom a diverse range of small pharmacologically active structured peptides called conotoxins. The cone snail venoms are widely unexplored arsenal of toxins with therapeutic and pharmacological potential, making them a treasure trove of ligands and peptidic drug leads. Conotoxins are small disulfide bonded peptides, which act as remarkable selective inhibitors and modulators of ion channels (calcium, sodium, potassium), nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, noradrenaline transporters, N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors, and neurotensin receptors. They are highly potent and specific against several neuronal targets making them valuable as research tools, drug leads and even therapeutics. In this review, we discuss their gene superfamily classification, nomenclature, post-translational modification, structural framework, pharmacology and medical applications of the active conopeptides. We aim to give an overview of their structure and therapeutic potential. Understanding these aspects of conopeptides will help in designing more specific peptidic analogues.
Keywords: Conotoxins, classification, structure, drugs.
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title:Conotoxins: Structure, Therapeutic Potential and Pharmacological Applications
Volume: 22 Issue: 5
Author(s): Rafia Mir, Sajjad Karim, Mohammad Amjad Kamal, Cornelia M. Wilson and Zeenat Mirza
Affiliation:
Keywords: Conotoxins, classification, structure, drugs.
Abstract: Cone snails, also known as marine gastropods, from Conus genus produce in their venom a diverse range of small pharmacologically active structured peptides called conotoxins. The cone snail venoms are widely unexplored arsenal of toxins with therapeutic and pharmacological potential, making them a treasure trove of ligands and peptidic drug leads. Conotoxins are small disulfide bonded peptides, which act as remarkable selective inhibitors and modulators of ion channels (calcium, sodium, potassium), nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, noradrenaline transporters, N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors, and neurotensin receptors. They are highly potent and specific against several neuronal targets making them valuable as research tools, drug leads and even therapeutics. In this review, we discuss their gene superfamily classification, nomenclature, post-translational modification, structural framework, pharmacology and medical applications of the active conopeptides. We aim to give an overview of their structure and therapeutic potential. Understanding these aspects of conopeptides will help in designing more specific peptidic analogues.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Mir Rafia, Karim Sajjad, Kamal Amjad Mohammad, Wilson M. Cornelia and Mirza Zeenat, Conotoxins: Structure, Therapeutic Potential and Pharmacological Applications, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2016; 22 (5) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612822666151124234715
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612822666151124234715 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Blood-based biomarkers in large-scale screening for neurodegenerative diseases
Disease biomarkers are necessary tools that can be employ in several clinical context of use (COU), ranging from the (early) diagnosis, prognosis, prediction, to monitor of disease state and/or drug efficacy. Regarding neurodegenerative diseases, in particular Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a battery of well-validated biomarkers are available, such as cerebrospinal fluid ...read more
Current Pharmaceutical challenges in the treatment and diagnosis of neurological dysfunctions
Neurological dysfunctions (MND, ALS, MS, PD, AD, HD, ALS, Autism, OCD etc..) present significant challenges in both diagnosis and treatment, often necessitating innovative approaches and therapeutic interventions. This thematic issue aims to explore the current pharmaceutical landscape surrounding neurological disorders, shedding light on the challenges faced by researchers, clinicians, and ...read more
Diabetes mellitus: advances in diagnosis and treatment driving by precision medicine
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic degenerative metabolic disease with ever increasing prevalence worldwide which is now an epidemic disease affecting 500 million people worldwide. Insufficient insulin secretion from pancreatic β cells unable to maintain blood glucose homeostasis is the main feature of this disease. Multifactorial and complex nature of ...read more
Emerging and re-emerging diseases
Faced with a possible endemic situation of COVID-19, the world has experienced two important phenomena, the emergence of new infectious diseases and/or the resurgence of previously eradicated infectious diseases. Furthermore, the geographic distribution of such diseases has also undergone changes. This context, in turn, may have a strong relationship with ...read more
![Wayfinder Image](/images/wayfinder.jpg)
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Yoga and Meditation in the Treatment of Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders
Current Traditional Medicine Xenobiotic Acyl Glucuronides and Acyl CoA Thioesters as Protein- Reactive Metabolites With the Potential to Cause Idiosyncratic Drug Reactions
Current Drug Metabolism Pathophysiogenesis of Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy: Is Prevention of Damage Antiepileptogenic?
Current Medicinal Chemistry Progress and Outlooks in a Genetic Absence Epilepsy Model (WAG/Rij)
Current Medicinal Chemistry Patent Selections
Recent Patents on CNS Drug Discovery (Discontinued) Recent Developments of Thalidomide Derivatives Possessing Anti-Inflammatory Activity
Anti-Inflammatory & Anti-Allergy Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Tuberculosis Infections of the Central Nervous System
Central Nervous System Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Adult Neurogenesis in Epileptogenesis: An Update for Preclinical Finding and Potential Clinical Translation
Current Neuropharmacology CNS Transporters and Drug Delivery in Epilepsy
Current Pharmaceutical Design Diabetes Mellitus: Novel Insights, Analysis and Interpretation of Pathophysiology and Complications Management with Imidazole-Containing Peptidomimetic Antioxidants
Recent Patents on Drug Delivery & Formulation Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels: Mutations, Channelopathies and Targets
Current Medicinal Chemistry In Vivo Imaging of the Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 1 (mGluR1) with Positron Emission Tomography: Recent Advance and Perspective
Current Medicinal Chemistry Down Regulated Expression of Claudin-1 and Claudin-5 and Up Regulation of β-Catenin: Association with Human Glioma Progression
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets HHT: A Rare Disease with A Broad Spectrum of Clinical Aspects
Current Pharmaceutical Design Graphical Abstracts
Current Neuropharmacology Investigating Mitochondrial Dysfunction to Increase Drug Safety in the Pharmaceutical Industry
Current Drug Targets The Need to Avoid the Routine Use of Episiotomy
Current Women`s Health Reviews The Impact of Antiepileptic Drugs on Vitamin Levels in Epileptic Patients
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Targeting Gap Junctions: New Insights into the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder
Current Medicinal Chemistry Native Proteins in Organic Chemistry. Recent Achievements in the use of non Hydrolytic Enzymes for the Synthesis of Pharmaceuticals
Current Organic Chemistry